ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

From that point forward, the Wildcats finally looked like the team they were projected to be.

Sparked by those fortunate hits, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ turns its fortunes around and defeated New Mexico 10-0 in seven innings Tuesday afternoon in the home opener at Hi Corbett Field.

The Wildcats registered their first victory after going 0-3 in Arlington, Texas, over the weekend, including a pair of double-digit defeats.

“It was tough for the kids,� UA coach Chip Hale said. “So really we just wanted to trust the process, do what you do, whether it’s pitching, hitting, defense, baserunning. Don’t try to do too much. Just be who you are. And I thought they did a really good job of that.�

The Wildcats’ 10 runs were more than they scored in three games in Arlington. They were more than enough to support a four-man pitching effort led by third-year freshman Kenan Elarton.

Elarton, a member of the 2022 signing class, missed his first two seasons at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ after having Tommy John surgery in 2023. He pitched the first three innings against the Lobos and did not allow a run. He yielded three singles, struck out three and did not walk a batter. Elarton exited after throwing 44 pitches.

“Coming back from Tommy John and doing the things he did is super cool,� Hale said. “He was not voted one of our captains, but he could very easily have been. He's a leader. Every day he's in there early, doing his work, doing his rehab, great student, great in the weight room. He's a superstar, in my mind. So I'm just happy to get him out there and just keep building on it.�

Elarton’s mother, Laurie, was in attendance to watch her son’s college debut. His father, Scott, pitched for 10 seasons in MLB from 1998-2008.

“It was awesome,� Elarton said. “Just taking it all in, seeing the fans and everything, all the support, my guys in the dugout cheering for me. It meant a lot to get back out there.�

“It's really special,� he added. “I can't wait to go see the texts I got from my family and stuff like that. It’s definitely a day to remember for me.�

Another right-hander, Carson Johnson, also made his college debut, following Elarton with a scoreless fourth inning. Johnson was credited with the win.

The long-awaited rally in the bottom of the fourth ended a string of 10 consecutive innings without a run. It began with Richie Morales’ looping double to right. Mason White then popped a ball down the left field line that New Mexico left fielder Jordy Oriach dove for but couldn’t corral.

Garen Caulfield drove them both in with a line-drive triple to right-center. Caulfield scored on an error to make it 3-0.

“Our guys stuck with it,� Hale said. “A couple funky balls fall in for us, and then here it goes, the floodgates open. Sometimes that's what you need.�

Following the bloops, Adonys Guzman provided the blast. The junior catcher’s two-run homer to left in the fifth bumped ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s lead to 5-0. Brendan Summerhill’s two-run triple to left in the sixth made it 8-0. Maddox Mihalakis’ RBI single in the seventh clinched the run-rule walk-off.

“Hitting is contagious,� Guzman said. “Once those first ones fell, we got a little more comfortable. Took a deep breath, and the result showed it.�

Inside pitch

– White, Caulfield, Mihalakis and Guzman each had multiple hits. White went 3 for 4 with two runs scored. Caulfield went 2 for 4 with four RBIs. Mihalakis went 2 for 4. Guzman went 2 for 3.

– R¾±²µ³ó³Ù-³ó²¹²Ô»å±ð°ù Garrett Hicks, a transfer from Pima Community College, followed Elarton and Johnson with two hitless innings. Hicks has allowed one run in four innings this season.

– R¾±²µ³ó³Ù-³ó²¹²Ô»å±ð°ù Raul Garayzar pitched a perfect inning in the seventh. Garayzar has yet to allow a run in four innings after struggling last season (11.12 ERA).

– ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ continues its homestand with a three-game series against San Diego starting at 6 p.m. Friday.